Common Core State Standards

Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade. In California, the State Board of Education decides on the standards for all students, from kindergarten through high school.

Since 2010, a number of states across the nation have adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Having the same standards helps all students get a good education, even if they change schools or move to a different state. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the standards to prepare students for success in college and the workplace.

The California Department of Education helps schools make sure that all students are meeting the standards. Below you will find information about the standards and the CCSS-related activities taking place in California.

Implementation Plan

Approved on March 7, 2012, by the State Board of Education, the CCSS systems implementation plan is a living document that identifies major phases and activities in the implementation of the CCSS throughout California's educational system.

CCSS Systems Implementation Guide
This resource, designed to support local CCSS implementation, provides suggestions and resources organized by the seven guiding strategies of the CCSS Systems Implementation Plan for California.

Common Core Channel
Videos and related resources to provide
information and support for implementing the CCSS.

CCSS Update Listserv
Join the CCSS Update Listserv to receive information regarding the implementation of the CCSS including resources and opportunities to participate.

California Spotlight
This is a feature of the CDE CCSS Update Listserv to highlight and share Web sites, curriculum, lessons, units, communications, and other online resources developed by California schools, districts, and county offices of education to support the use of the CCSS.

Grade Level Curriculum
The grade-level curriculum documents are organized by individual grade levels and include information about transitioning to the CCSS.

Achieve the Core
Free, high-quality resources compiled by Student Achievement Partners, writers of the CCSS, for educators implementing the CCSS, including professional learning modules, handouts, presentations, sample lessons, lesson videos, and much more.

Instructional Practice Guide
This guide includes coaching and lesson planning tools to help teachers and those who support teachers to make the key shifts in instructional practice required by the CCSS.

CCSS Resource Clearinghouses
Listed Web sites include continuously expanding collections of CCSS
implementation resources. Since many of these sites are under development, users
are advised to visit these sites often for the latest resources.

Communications Toolkit for California (DOC; 2 MB)
The CCSS Systems Implementation Communications Toolkit for California
is designed to help local educational agencies with the important task of informing and engaging school communities about what the CCSS will mean for them.

Instructional Practice Guide
This guide includes coaching and lesson planning tools to help teachers and those who support teachers to make the key shifts in instructional practice required by the CCSS.

PACE/CCSESA Regional Leadership Sessions on CCSS Implementation
Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) sponsored regional leadership sessions to highlight a variety of strategies, tools, and resources, including local examples and strategic advice on key issues, to support the successful implementation of the CCSS. On this Web site you can find videos of session presentations and related tools and resources.

Achieve PublicationsAchieve publishes national and state reports as well as policy briefs, surveys, and white papers that focus on preparing all students for college and careers. All of these publications are available to the public for free in PDF format.

Not finding what you need? Use the keyword search and filters to find specific resources at Common Core Search.

Resources for Students, Parents, and Guardians

Information and resources about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for students, parents, and guardians.

CCSS Resources for Parents and Guardians | DOC (Updated 19-Aug-2014)
This handout includes a list of resources for parents and guardians interested in learning more about the CCSS and how to support their child's attainment of these standards.

What’s Cooking with Common Core in California?
This brief video explains what the transition to the CCSS means for California. This video was developed by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation in collaboration with the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, California State PTA®, California School Boards Association, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers AFT/AFL-CIO, Association of California School Administrators, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

K-8 California's Common Core Standards Parent Handbook
This handbook, created by the California County Superintendents Educational
Services Association (CCSESA) in consultation with the California State Parent
Teacher Association (PTA), gives parents an introduction to California's CCSS
and a summary of what students are expected to learn as they advance from
kindergarten through grade eight. This document has been translated into 17 languages. The handbook and translations may be found on the CCSESA Common Core Standards Communication Tools Web page
under the General Overview Materials section.

California PTA Parent Resources Web Page
The California State PTA has made available many resources for parents to learn more about the CCSS and support their child's achievement of the standards. Resources include frequently asked questions, presentations, a parents' guide, links to additional resources, and articles of interest.

Parents' Guide to Student Success
A guide, available in English and Spanish, for the CCSS in grades K-8 and two
for grades 9-12 (one for English language arts/literacy and one for mathematics)
created by the National PTA. The guide includes key items that children should
be learning in each grade and activities parents can do at home to support their
child's learning.

Be a Learning Hero
A collection of education organizations seek to help parents and guardians support their child's success in school with tools and resources.

A Common Core FAQ
(PDF) created by teachers for teachers that includes key information about the background of the Standards, what the changes mean for students, and resources where parents can learn more.

Milestone Videos
from GreatKids.org are short videos for parents that show what children in grades K-5 should be able to do in each grade.

Parent and Guardian Practice Test Notification Template (DOC)
The California Department of Education has developed a letter template for local educational agencies to assist them in notifying parents and guardians of the availability of the Smarter Balanced Practice Tests. The notification template can be customized and printed on school or district letterhead. The
template is available in multiple languages.

Council of Great City Schools Parent Roadmaps
The Council of Great City Schools has developed parent roadmaps for
understanding the ELA and mathematics CCSS in kindergarten through eighth grade.
For each grade and subject, the roadmaps explain to parents what children will
be learning and how parents can support learning outside of the classroom.

Shifts for Students and Parents
EngageNY has created a practical guide that provides steps that parents can take
to improve their child’s learning of the CCSS.

Raise the Bar Parents
Supported by America Achieves, this is a Web site created by parents for parents. Its mission is to provide parents with tools, resources, and community so that parents have what they need to support their child's learning and work effectively with teachers and schools. On this page, you will find information about education relevant to parents, tools for parents to help at home (such as the Educational Check-Up), and ways for connecting with other active parents.

Resources for the Higher Education Community

CCSS and Higher Education (DOC)
This handout includes information about transitioning to the CCSS for the higher education community.

Letter from UC, CSU, CCC, and AICCU Leaders
In this letter to the State Board of Education, leaders of the University of California system, the California State University system, the California Community Colleges, and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities outline their endorsement of the CCSS and their support for continuous collaboration between K–12 and higher education.

Higher Education for Higher Standards
Higher Education for Higher Standards is a growing coalition of college and university leaders who believe college- and career-ready standards, including the CCSS, are critical to improving student success.

Community Partners

Information and resources about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for local school board members, business leaders, and community partners.

CCSS and School Boards (DOC)
This handout includes information about transitioning to the CCSS for
local school boards.

CSBA CCSS Web Page
The California School Boards Association (CSBA) has produced a number of resources to assist governance teams as they implement the CCSS in their district or county office of education.

CPE Understanding the Common Core
The Center for Public Education (CPE), an initiative of the National School Boards Association, has gathered a compendium of resources to help you understand what these new standards are—and aren't—and what states are doing to ensure all students graduate college and career ready.

Chamber of Commerce Smarter Balanced Flyer (PDF)
This informational flyer was developed by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives in collaboration with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium to inform the business community about what the Smarter Balanced assessment system will mean for them.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Business for Core
On this Web site, visitors will find simple and useful information and multimedia about the state of education in the U.S. and the importance of the CCSS. Here you will find myths vs. facts, an electronic communications toolkit, opinion and editorial pieces, an interactive map for state level information about student achievement, and informative videos.

Business Center for a College- and Career-Ready America (BCCRA)
The BCCCRA aims to help business leaders think more strategically about how best to support college and career readiness for all students in states across the country. To strengthen the bridge between awareness and engagement, the BCCCRA provides a range of practical and customizable tools, key messages, talking points and examples of how current business leaders are supporting standards-based education reform — both within and across states.

What’s Cooking with Common Core in California?
This brief video explains what the transition to the CCSS means for California. This video was developed by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation in collaboration with the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, California State PTA®, California School Boards Association, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers AFT/AFL-CIO, Association of California School Administrators, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.